Nominees named for Chamber’s annual Distinguished Service Awards

FEB. 1 – The Hardin County Chamber of Commerce will host its 22nd Annual Meeting and Distinguished Service Awards Banquet on Thursday, Feb. 8, at Pickwick Landing State Park Inn.

Silent auction and business showcase begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

Along with the graduation of the Hardin County Leadership Class, the presentations of the service awards are nominated by the community and given in recognition to those who have made a significant contribution to the area.

The recipient of the “Bill Bellis Pinnacle Award” is Jim Kerr.

• Jim Kerr has served and continues to serve in many roles for the benefit of his community. He is charter member of the Tennessee Valley Farmers, a former charter president of the Savannah Gideons, a former chairman of the 911 Board, a member of the Savannah Historical Board and a 13-year member on the West Tennessee Agriculture Museum Board.

Perhaps most notably, Kerr is known for creating the Christmas displays that were once at the Farm Bureau office and are now placed on Wayne Road near Sonic during the holiday season.

Man of the Year

The nominees are:

• C.D. Rickman currently serves Hardin County as a commissioner and as the Veterans Services officer. He is an active member of the American Legion, president of Friends of Shiloh National Military Park, Sons of the Confederate Veterans and a commander of Camp 1454.

• Garry Welch is the city manager of Savannah, a post he has held 12 years. He serves on the Tennessee City Manager’s Association Policy/Legislative Committee. He is also the State District 7 representative for the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Municipal League and the current chairman of Team Hardin County.

• Michael Davis currently serves as the Hardin County director of schools which is made up of five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. He is also a member of The Darryl Worley Foundation, president of Savannah Cemetery, co-host of WKWX SportsTalk and a member of the Tennessee Organization for School Superintendents.

Woman of the Year

The nominees are:

• Renae Martin is the current president of the Rotary Club of Savannah and has previously served as the president elect, secretary and the public relations chair. She is also an active board member for Hardin County Healthcare Foundation, the Area 7A vice-president for the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women and a committee member for Christmas on Main.

• Faye Lindberg has served this past year alongside other members of the Col. Joseph Hardin’s Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in bringing the Moving Vietnam Memorial Wall to Hardin County. She serves in Shiloh Falls Garden Club, Pickwick Dam Ladies and Raise the Flag. Faye is also an active tourism volunteer, retiree recruit and a Hardin County “hop on, hop off” guide for the American Queen riverboat.